World football governing body, FIFA, has given Nigeria until Friday, October 31, 2014 to resolve the crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation or face a lengthy ban from all football related activities.
In a letter addressed to Amaju Pinnick who was duly elected as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the September 30 elections in Warri, Delta State, Secretary General of FIFA, Jerome Valcke, said that the world football body extended the grace period for Nigeria from yesterday till Friday as an OPPORTUNITY
to avoid a lengthy ban.
to avoid a lengthy ban.
"This gives Nigerian football a last opportunity to avoid a lengthy suspension. We INFORM you that if by Friday 31 October 2014 at midday Nigerian time we have not received proof that the case (the JosFederal High Court ruling that sacked the Pinnick led NFF board) has been definitively withdrawn from court and that the board elected on 30 September 2014 is able to carry out its activities without any hindrance, we will refer the case to the FIFA Emergency Committee for implementation of the suspension," observed the statement from FIFA yesterday.
you that if by Friday 31 October 2014 at midday Nigerian time we have not received proof that the case (the JosFederal High Court ruling that sacked the Pinnick led NFF board) has been definitively withdrawn from court and that the board elected on 30 September 2014 is able to carry out its activities without any hindrance, we will refer the case to the FIFA Emergency Committee for implementation of the suspension," observed the statement from FIFA yesterday.
FIFA said that it was aware of the order granted by the Federal High Court in Jos nullifying the NFF elections of 30 September 2014 and the fact that some persons claiming to have been legitimately elected previously went to occupy the offices of the NFF, thereby causing great confusion among the ADMINISTRATIVE staff .
staff .
"We also note that security forces prevented you (Pinnick) from travelling to Namibia where you were supposed to represent the NFF at the final match of the African Women's Championship.
"As stated in our previous letters dated 9 September 2014 and 2 October 2014, , FIFA stressed that should the electoral process and the instalment of the newly elected NFF board be affected by any interference, the case would be brought to the attention of the appropriate FIFA bodies for a suspension of the NFF until the next FIFA Congress due to take place on 28 and 29 May 2015," it further warned.
Valcke insisted that the activities of those parading themselves as factional NFF board members clearly shows that interference has not ceased in the ADMINISTRATION of Nigerian football.
of Nigerian football.
It also warned of the dire effects a suspension could have on Nigerian football. FIFA said that It would for instance mean that no team from Nigeria of any sort (including club teams) could have any international sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes). But it would also mean that neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials could benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA or CAF any longer.
The relative peace that Nigerian football enjoyed after the September 30 elections in Warri was shattered by the ruling of the Jos High Court last Thursday, October 23 when it invalidated the Pinnick's election.
On Monday, Chris Giwa who is laying claim to the August 26 supposed mandate given to him by four out of the 44 members of the NFF Congress, stormed the federation's Glass House in Abuja to take charge but met a deserted secretariat as all the staff went into hiding.
The factional president however admitted to REPORTERS that he was not surprised that most offices were under lock and key including the boardroom, stressing that there was no going back on his decision to inaugurate four committees for the running of the federation.
that he was not surprised that most offices were under lock and key including the boardroom, stressing that there was no going back on his decision to inaugurate four committees for the running of the federation.
But in a swift move to end the bizarre show in Nigerian football, Sports Minister, Dr Tammy Danagogo, who met with both Pinnick and Giwa in Abuja yesterday, directed all the parties in the dispute to withdraw their cases from courts in the interest of the GAME and the country.
and the country.
Danagogo said that this has become necessary as it was the only way for a smooth ADMINISTRATION of football and to avoid constant confrontation with FIFA.
of football and to avoid constant confrontation with FIFA.
In appealing to them to withdraw their case from the court, he said there was a need for them to make sacrifices in the spirit of give and take, stressing that he or the National Sports COMMISSION as a body cannot stop individuals from going to court nor stop the courts from hearing cases brought before it except to persuade them to do so.
as a body cannot stop individuals from going to court nor stop the courts from hearing cases brought before it except to persuade them to do so.
He therefore called on Nigerians and all sports lovers to prevail on them to withdraw their case and settle amicably. "I am calling on Nigerians to prevail on the factions in the NFF crisis to come to a round table and discuss the way forward. I have met with them and have told them to make peace by making sacrifices. They should withdraw the case they have in court as that is the only way we can avoid the threats of FIFA ban.
"I cannot stop people from going to court nor can I stop the court from hearing cases brought before it. What we advise is for matters of this nature to be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) which is the right body to hear such cases so that we avoid the threats of FIFA ban all the time," the minister stressed.
Both Pinnick and Giwa resolved to reach out to their groups to consult and return to the minister today with their resolutions.
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